Wolves’ recruitment has come under the microscope after the club’s shocking start to the 2025/26 season – and it’s now been suggested the club opted against pushing for one of the Championship’s brightest stars.
It has been a sorry season so far for Wolves, who find themselves bottom of the Premier League table and still winless in the competition.
Wolves have just lost their latest game against Burnley, which was suggested as a must-win match by Vitor Pereira.
The scenes that unfolded in front of the South Bank after the defeat to Burnley were sad to see, but were perhaps inevitable following such a poor performance and result.
Many have put Wolves’ bad start down to recruitment.
And today, the Daily Mail have published an interesting piece regarding how the club came to sign the players they did.
Wolves declined to push for Milan van Ewijk
Wolves brought in six new players in the summer, and not a single one of them had any previous Premier League experience.
It has not been uncommon for Wolves to search for new players from overseas, and the club have had success operating in this way in the past.
But in a window where so many players were moving on, Wolves surely could have done with a couple of players who were familiar with the English top-flight. Or at least, familiar with English football.
It has previously been reported that the manager has the final say on transfers. And Pereira wants to bring in players who are physical and athletic.
The Daily Mail report today that Milan van Ewijk of Coventry City was a player Wolves looked at, but ultimately the club did not decide to push for him as he didn’t fit the profile desired by Pereira.
Previously, the Daily Mail had reported that van Ewijk had actually been offered to Wolves.
Van Ewijk is 5ft 8 – and every single Pereira signing at Wolves so far, barring Jhon Arias, has been over 6ft tall.
Van Ewijk would have been a great signing for Wolves
Of course, Coventry City are top of the Championship table at the moment with Frank Lampard doing a terrific job.
And van Ewijk has been an ever-present in their starting XI, and has already chipped in with five assists from right-back and been one of their star performers.
Van Ewijk may never have played in the Premier League, but he has been exposed to English football since 2023, making 99 appearances in the Championship.
Instead, Wolves spent time trying to sign Marc Pubill before Atletico hijacked the move, and then Juanlu Sanchez, who ultimately didn’t fancy a move. In the end, Wolves landed Jackson Tchatchoua, who is still yet to wholly convince.
Meanwhile van Ewijk continues to shine, and it would be no surprise if he later made a big money move to another Premier League club.